Bedford, VA

In case you can’t see the sign, it reads “Welcome to Bedford:  The Christmas Capital of the World”.  Not really sure why it is deemed the Christmas capital of the world…but we shall see in December.  We moved here 2 weeks ago and I am finally not crying daily.  The first week was a bit “iffy” and I think I cried enough to fill a gallon jug.  It is one thing to say you’re moving 5 hours away and another to actually drive the 5 hours.  On Monday, Murray took me to Chick-fil-a to lift my spirits.  We drove the 30 minutes to Lynchburg for a chicken salad sandwich and sweet tea.  And it did lift my spirits, somewhat! 

Our Virginia house is very INTERESTING.  It is a 125 year old farmhouse with a SPOOKY basement.



Lila has loved exploring around the house.  We are just renting it because we kept our house back in South Carolina.  Our neighbors to the left are Jake and Janie, a very sweet, very old couple.



Our neighbors to the right are the cows in the pasture.

It really is like we’ve stepped back in time.  The cows come to the lower pasture around 5:30 in the evening, so Lila goes out to say hello. 

We pick vegetables from the garden, but I’m definitely still learning how to prepare them. Yesterday I sautéed some of our cucumbers in olive oil before realizing I should have put them in vinegar.  INTERESTING.  Atleast we got some greens in. 

I also took Lila on a wagon ride before realizing that cars fly down this old country road and that Virginia has HILLS.  INTERESTING.  I definitely got my cardio in for the week with that stroll.  We have baby bunnies that live in the bushes at the back door.  They are fun to watch and we tried to leave some cantaloupe out for them.  However, Buffy found the cantaloupe before the bunnies did. 

While playing outside in the driveway, Lila fell down and skinned her knee.  Mother-of-the-year here did not have any bandaids handy so I had to tape a piece of paper towel to her knee. INTERESTING. 

Another interesting thing is that I long for my Spartanburg Walmart (crazy, I know) and the familiar faces I used to see.  Back home, I would avoid Walmart and Food Lion like the plague because of who I might run into and have to chit chat with forever.  I was always on a mission to just run in and get the things on my list.  Now I find it sad that I won’t see any familiar faces on aisles 5, 6, or 7. 

We finally have television, but I couldn’t find anyone who provides internet service way out here…except for a company called “Wild Blue Yonder”.  INTERESTING.  The interesting part is they wanted to charge a $150 installation fee and $70/month.  Um…no.  For now I’ll use my dinky phone and occasionally the free Wi-Fi at Arby’s. 

What cracks me up is that none of these little “stories” are INTERESTING at all.  And I love it.  Life has definitely slowed down and the best part of all is that I’m starting to enjoy the little things.  Instead of rushing through the day, I’m actually taking time to sit and watch Barney.  I play the keyboard for Lila and we walk to the mailbox atleast twice a day to check the mail (even though we never get anything).  We go to the park and watch the birds fly by.  We moo at the cows when we pass by in the car.  Yes, Bedford is INTERESTING.  It is definitely not home, but I am TRYING to embrace the moments we have here because “this too shall pass.”  I’ve had some great phone therapy sessions with Erin and Ashley and have come to realize that they might just be right.  I am going to make memories while here and enjoy my sweet little family in Bedford:  the Christmas capital of the world.          

Here's to...

Health and happiness.  It's in every wedding toast, every graduation send-off, and every mother's wish for her children.  I've recently been thinking that, for Lila, I'd like to add one more wish.  Not only do I pray for her personal happiness, but I pray she will continue to make others happy, as well.  It's fairly easy for her now.  Everything from a new word to blowing kisses makes those around her happy, especially the grandparents that worship the ground she walks on.  

Aside from the grandparents, Murray and I want other people to like our child.  We try to keep her fairly quiet in restaurants and pick up food off the floor before leaving.  We cross our fingers that she gets a good "report" from the Sunday School teachers at church, and we are trying to instill manners in her early.  When I pop her with the Home Depot paint stick :), it is totally out of love and in hopes that she'll learn wrong from right.  We do these things so that she won't be the child people dread coming.  She won't be the child teachers sigh when seeing her name on the class roster (and, yes, teachers do that).  I want the reputation that precedes her to be one of being a blessing.  

As she grows, I hope Lila realizes that by blessing others, she will in turn become happier herself.  How many times did I hear my dad say, "You reap what you sow."  I pray Lila sows into other people's lives.  I pray she is the friend they can call, the student they can count on, the wife that God wants her to be, and the mother that will love her children as much as I love her.  

So to get off my Mother Teresa soap box, I will end by toasting my daughter.  "Here's to a lifetime of health, happiness, and loving others just as much as you love yourself."